The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has sued an Ohio trucking company to enforce an order requiring reinstatement of wrongly fired truck drivers. About a year ago, DOL’s Administrative Review Board required Star Air to pay back wages and reinstate employees terminated for refusing to drive until safety and compliance issues were resolved.

The truck drivers filed complaints with OSHA after they were fired, claiming that Star Air had discriminated against them in retaliation for protected activities. According to OSHA, one driver was stopped by law enforcement and cited for hauling an excess load without a commercial driver’s license, operating an overweight trailer, and other infractions.

That driver told a colleague and both refused to continue on the road until the employer resolved the issues. At that point they were terminated. DOL sued in federal court for enforcement of the 2011 decision.